A small boat.

Cheonyeong and ten Green Warrior Unit members escorting him.

And Meng Serling accompanying as a hostage, along with Sanghui who insisted on following no matter what.

The officials strongly objected, saying a fight might break out, but Cheonyeong's resolve was firm.

The journey to Neijiang wharf.

The justification was good.

Resolving the problem and declaring that he was going to question the Beggar Gang for ignoring the situation meant it was just a step to Junshan.

Of course, it depended on how the Black Heaven Sect responded.

He deliberately spread the word too.

For someone to hear...

That someone would never dream that this journey was related to Samyang.

But then.

"Why did you come along anyway?"

Cheonyeong looked displeased at Yu Seong-yeon, who had boarded the boat with him.

"To see the wider world."

"What?"

"When will there be another opportunity like this? Thanks to you, I can even ride the boat, and if things go well, I can see Dongting Lake too."

The calm tone and Taoist-like smile really didn't sit well with him.

And what? Ride for free?

This bastard!

Did he think the Tang Family was a ferry service?

"Myeong-seok!"

"Yes! Family Head!"

"Collect the fare."

"Yes?"

"He rode for free on his own, so we should collect the boat fare, shouldn't we!"

"Ah, but..."

At Cheonyeong's words, Green Warrior Unit member Myeong-seok became embarrassed.

He was a direct disciple of the Blue Green Sect.

Moreover, who didn't know that he was staying at the Tang Family as a guest?

"What are you doing! Collect the money, quickly!"

"That's... how much should I collect?"

"Ten taels of gold!"

"Yes?"

"Collect it!"

"But ten taels is too much..."

"You bastard! Can't you hear the Family Head's order?"

"Family Head..."

Myeong-seok, caught in between, could only make a sad face.

Not armed robbery, but what boat fare was ten taels of gold?

And gold at that?

"Huh. That's really too much, Family Head. Where would a Taoist have money? And ten taels of gold? Where does such tyranny exist? I'm afraid people will find out."

"Shut up! It's my boat!"

"Precisely, it's not exactly the Tang Family's boat, is it?"

"What?"

"Isn't it a merchant ship? You chartered it. Isn't that right, ship owner?"

Yu Seong-yeon, accepting Cheonyeong's words with a sly smile, looked at the nearby ship owner.

"Ah, that's..."

This time it was the ship owner's turn after Myeong-seok.

"Right. Ship owner, collect the money!"

"Yes?"

"Hehehehe, Infinite Buddha. A Taoist has no money. Please show mercy."

"Yes?"

The direct disciple of the Blue Green Sect, the Family Head of the Tang Family.

How could he put himself between them like this?

What power did a mere ship owner have...

"Anyway, you have terrible taste. Why needlessly bother people?"

Unable to watch anymore, Sanghui intervened as a mediator.

"What am I doing? Then should I let him board for free?"

"He's a guest, isn't he?"

"I never said he could board the boat!"

"Sigh, really. You're so stubborn... just have some alcohol. Please."

"You! Why don't you respect the Family Head! This is what happens when you get married!"

"That's enough! Stop! Really, I'm afraid of what people will think. If the Family Head keeps doing this, what will people say about the Tang Family? Do you want to become a laughingstock?"

"What laughingstock? You..."

Cheonyeong, who had been shouting loudly, suddenly turned his head away.

"Hehehehe, thank you, Miss Dang."

"Don't mention it. Don't worry. I was planning to ask Gongsun Family Head for the fare later anyway."

"Yes?"

"Oh, then you really will ride for free? Why would the Blue Green Sect want free rides? They're not Shaolin."

At that smile, Yu Seong-yeon closed his mouth firmly.

Shaolin was a bit... mentally...

"Myeong-seok."

"Yes! Inner Hall Master!"

"Did you hear? Later, make sure to tell Gongsun Family Head. Ask him generously for the boat fare for Taoist Qinghua. Understood?"

"Yes."

"Ah, no! Miss Dang. How can you do that?"

"Then will you pay ten taels of gold now? Or should I lower it?"

Having made even Yu Seong-yeon turn his head away, Sanghui returned to Meng Serling with a victorious smile.

"Miss Dang, you're really good at everything."

"What? When you're with the Tang Family, you can't help but become like this."

"Is that so?"

"Of course. A stubborn Family Head, an oblivious husband, a drunkard, a whip fetishist, someone who loves standing in front of children... there's not a single normal person. And that's not all. Recently there's a blacksmith obsessed with fire, a Hyeon Gal clan obsessed with poison, and a cunning younger brother... sigh, it's hard to list them all."

Though Sanghui grumbled and spoke ill of them, Meng Serling's eyes only saw joy. Free and...

"The Family Head must be quite happy."

"Yes?"

"Being with such people. The position of Family Head is always heavy, isn't it?"

"Hmm, it's a bit different from what you might think."

"Different?"

"Yes, it's not that the Family Head is happy, but that we're happy. Because we're with the Family Head."

"I don't understand."

"Have you heard? How the Tang Family began?"

"Yes."

A family that started by gathering vagrants.

"The Family Head created it like this."

"..."

"Not bound by titles or status, anyone can speak their thoughts. Like one family. Though we don't share blood."

Sanghui smiled broadly while looking at Cheonyeong's back, who still seemed sulky.

"I'd like to hear. The story of the Tang Family."

"Well, then shall we have a drink too?"

"Alcohol?"

"Yes."

"But I'm a hostage..."

"What does it matter? It's just a name. No one's really restraining you, are they? We just put a veil over your face."

"That's true."

Sanghui was right.

It was just a name being a hostage.

There was no particular surveillance or restraint.

They even set up a separate tent to shield her from the sun.

Just taking her along.

Comfortably.

"Don't worry. Even if the words and actions are harsh, the heart is like silk."

"...I see."

"I'll bring tea."

"No. Let's have tea instead."

"Yes?"

"Because you're pregnant."

"Ah, yes."

Sanghui smiled broadly and brought tea, and as they traveled to Neijiang, Meng Serling heard the stories of how the Tang Family had come to be.

Sometimes laughing, sometimes serious.

Gradually becoming absorbed in Sanghui's emotions.

And little by little, she came to understand.

Though it was just her thought, Cheonyeong was like that name—the Tang Family itself.

Someone, a hill you could always stay on and lean against.

Perhaps I too...

Meng Serling shook her head vigorously.

It was just a thought swayed by Sanghui's words.

* * *

"Chamber Leader, it's Junghwan."

"Come in."

With permission granted, escort captain Woo Junghwan entered.

"The Tang Family's boat has arrived at the entrance of Neijiang wharf."

"Is that so?"

Minglun Chamber Leader Gu Yongtae looked out the window.

In the distance, a single boat could be seen cutting through the many boats detained on the river.

At its bow, a flag fluttered with a black dragon rising against a white background.

It was the Tang Family.

On the fifth day since beginning the inspection of the waterway at the Black Heaven Sect's request.

Already, dozens of merchant ships bearing the Tang Family flag floated on the river like a giant island.

It was retaliation for refusing the political marriage.

Due to the current pressure, the Minglun Chamber might find its relationship with Noh Sang-gae of the Beggar Gang, with whom the Tang Family had made an agreement, becoming awkward.

But there was no choice.

The order came from Meng Sheguang.

Though he was called an aging tiger who had handed over the sect leader position to his son and stepped back, how could one not know his influence remained?

Even aged, a tiger is still a tiger.

There were still far more martial artists following him, and his connections were incomparable to the young sect leader.

Above all, wasn't he one of the Three Heavenly Kings of the Unorthodox Faction?

"So this little brat Cheonyeong came in person?"

"That's correct."

"An interesting fellow. At first, I thought he'd send a subordinate..."

He had thought there would be several tedious processes.

If he sent a subordinate, the negotiation would naturally have failed.

Until Cheonyeong came in person.

But since he came like this, the process could be skipped.

"The escort?"

"According to those who observed earlier, aside from the boatman and ship owner, there appear to be roughly ten people who look like escorts."

"Just that?"

"Yes."

"That bastard really is full of youthful vigor. Only ten escorts?"

"However, there's something to be careful about. According to rumors, in the war with the Qingshe Sect, only four people appeared at the core and fought."

"I know that too. That fool of a Qingshe Sect Leader. Having his main base stripped by just four kids... he was too careless. Because the main base was in the city."

Gu Yongtae smiled mockingly, recalling what he had heard about the fight between the Qingshe Sect and the Tang Family.

"Preparations?"

"We've disguised about two hundred martial artists as wharf workers and had them stand by. Once he sits at the negotiation table, we'll immediately surround the reception hall and activate the formation."

"Good. But we must be thorough. Though the Qingshe Sect is said to have been careless in its response and collapsed, if what's known is true, that bastard is skilled enough to defeat the Ghost Hand."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"Also, there was a strict order from the Grand Elder. There must be no complications."

"Understood. However, what should we do with those who came as escorts?"

"Escorts?"

"Yes."

At Woo Junghwan's words, Gu Yongtae's lips curved into a cold smile.

"Isn't there sacrifice in battle? That bastard, trusting in his own abilities and overflowing with youthful vigor, brought only ten escorts. He should have been prepared for some to die."

"I'll handle it with that in mind."

"Go and observe. I'll go to the reception hall."

"Yes! Chamber Leader!"

Woo Junghwan bowed respectfully and left.

In the distance, the Tang Family's boat was arriving at the wharf.

"Like a frog in a well who doesn't know the sky, thrashing about. The seedling was quite promising, but what can be done? This is all the result of your arrogance."

Gu Yongtae wanted to teach him a lesson.

This was the one who had destroyed the Qingshe Sect and defeated the Ghost Hand, whose name had become famous throughout Sichuan.

He didn't like it.

Neither his declaration of neutrality between orthodox and unorthodox, nor his reckless behavior.

And he was very displeased that Meng Sheguang, the Grand Elder of the Black Heaven Sect, one of the leaders of the unorthodox faction, had designated him as the target for his youngest daughter's political marriage.

When there were so many others...

"The Grand Elder must be aging now. He's made a wrong judgment. The times have already changed, and the back current of the Yangtze River pushes the front current, yet he still tries to stand at the front."

In fact, Gu Yongtae had received another order.

From the current Black Heaven Sect Leader, Meng Rong.

—Execute him.

Meng Rong was displeased.

That his father, despite handing over the sect leader position, still involved himself in sect affairs. And the attitude of Cheonyeong, who had refused the Black Heaven Sect's political marriage.

Black Heaven martial artists sent by Meng Rong were already waiting at a certain location.

But he couldn't kill him outright.

Hadn't the Grand Elder Meng Sheguang wanted a confrontation with Cheonyeong?

Gu Yongtae had to fulfill both orders.

That's why he had devised this plan.

Capture Cheonyeong, who came for negotiations, by trapping him in a formation, hand him over to the Grand Elder, and then immediately advance on the Tang Family.

"Hehehehe, if this goes well, not only the Tang Family but also the territory of the Qingshe Sect they destroyed will fall into my hands."

That was the reward he would receive.

That's how the martial world worked, wasn't it?

Eat or be eaten.

Whether it was conspiracy, war, or the decision of someone with power.

It didn't matter.

Wasn't the situation different from the Qingshe Sect?

The preparations were sufficient, and Cheonyeong would have to experience the Tang Family's collapse while captured.

And when everything was over, all the northern waterways of the Yangtze River passing through Sichuan would fall into his hands.

There remained the issue with the Beggar Gang, but behind him stood both the former and current Black Heaven Sect Leaders.

Time would resolve it, and it was just a matter of gradually working it out.

"Foolish bastard. Kicking away the golden opportunity presented by the Black Heaven Sect with your own feet—this is the fate you've brought upon yourself."

Gu Yongtae headed toward the reception hall with a desolate smile.

(End of Chapter)